Bowling

On Monday night for FHE we went bowling with our friends the Copelands. We had so much fun. If you have never had the chance to take a two and four year old bowling, you should do it because you will just laugh the whole time. The kids absolutely loved it, and had so much fun. We only had to have the nice guy come and get one ball unstuck. We hadn't started, but Owen was ready to so he walked up to the lane without the bumpers, and dropped his ball. We were all getting ready, so we didn't notice until he started crying that he couldn't get his ball. It was really quite funny! After that they kids all understood the need to take turns. Chad did great as usual, but I was to busy watching kids, taking care of a baby, and taking pictures to do that great (at least that is my excuse!).
The Copeland and Clayson kids ready to bowl.
Claire loved bowling. She did it all by herself, and with the bumpers up, got a score of 70. She would push the ball has hard as she could, but it would still take quite awhile to get down the lane.
Claire was so excited that she hit something!
I did good!!
Owen loved his bowling ball. He would just sit and hold it. When it was his turn, he knew exactly which ball was his, he would march over, pick it up and wait for his dad to come and help him. He did a great job. Don't you love the shoes! I couldn't believe that they had them in his size.
Owen would not hold still for a moment. I think this picture gives you a pretty good idea of what he was like! He was actually quite funny and very supportive of everyone. He would clap whenever anyone bowled. He ended up getting a 73, so he beat his sister, and I think he beat me. I was doing terrible!!
Grant was so great the whole time!! He was just handed from person to person but loved the atmosphere of the bowling alley. He didn't get grumpy until right before it was time to go home!

5 Months Old

I can't believe our little man is 5 months old. He is so much fun. Here are some facts about Grant.

He has started to blow bubbles, when he is trying to talk or when he is happy.

He has a little growth on the inside of his mouth that he has had since he was born. We are going to get it taken off next month.

He loves bath time. He could stay in there forever!!

Lots of people have told me that he looks like my dad - what do you think dad??

He loves toys that crinkle or squeak.

He is finally taking at least one nap a day, but it is usually 2 1/2 to 3 hours!
He takes the funniest pictures right now. His eyes just get sooo big!
Sadly he has been really sick. He has had a fever for 3 days, a bad cough and now a runny nose. The doctor said that tons of kids have RSV, but only about 10% have to be treated. Hopefully that isn't us!

Couponing 101

My friend Kristine taught me how to coupon awhile ago. I check the ads, but there really hasn't been anything that I wanted lately. Well, this week, there was a great sale, and I thought why not, I can use this stuff for my food storage, so here is a picture of most of my deals. I got way more fruit snacks (about 25 cents a box), and 10 cans of Progresso soup for 9 cents a can (I checked Wal-Mart yesterday when I was shopping and they are regularly $1.50). I might have to go back tomorrow for a few more cans! I spent about $30.00 on my items, and walked away with a ton! It is time consuming, but it gives you a great shopper high!

Chad was right.

These are not words you will hear me say often!! We have a very old furnace (I'm sure it is original to the house). Anyways, it is all electric. We have wanted to replace it, but there were other things we needed first like windows, drywall, carpet (you get the picture). So, we know that in the winter time our bill is huge, but never this huge. Chad has been trying to make it so that our stove downstairs will help heat the upstairs. We put vents in the floor, and have noticed a difference, but I just never remember or have time to go down and put wood in the fire. I try honest. It's always funny when Chad calls me in the mornings because I know he is really calling to see if I put wood in the fire, but he doesn't ask until the last thing. Well, we got our power bill the other day, and we cut it in half! Now I have to remember to put wood in the fire, but I'm just hoping in the next couple of months we can get our new furnace and AC and then I won't have to worry!!

Swimming and Snow

Yesterday Claire came out of her room with her swimsuit on, and informed us that she wanted to go swimming. I was actually taking my Sunday afternoon nap (when you have church at 8:30 you deserve a nap!!). Chad and I both told her no, but she wouldn't budge. She ended up changing into her dance outfit, but still wanted to go swimming. Chad finally told her that if she stood outside for 5 minutes, he would let her go. Well, she went out to the back porch, and stood in her leotard and little skirt without shoes, crying the whole time about how cold she was. She would not come in. She was determined to stay out there so she could go swimming. We finally decided that we had to let her go, so Chad filled up some tote (not sure where he got it), with cold water, and put it outside. She was thrilled. This is what happened.
Hey this looks fun! I really want to get in.
Hey, this isn't so bad!!! Owen even wanted to get in on the action.
At this point Claire wanted to get out, but Chad made her stay in for a few minutes. He wanted her to realize that yes, it was cold outside, and no, we don't swim when there is snow on the ground.

Grant the Ballet Dancer

I left Grant on the floor this morning for a few minutes while I tried to get something done, and this is what I found:
It looks like we have a new dancer in our house. I have to say that Claire was quite proud of herself, and very mad when I took it off.
He actually loved the tutu and wore it for quite awhile because it was something to put in his mouth.

Happy Valentines Day!

We had a great Valentines Day. I made the kids pink heart shaped pancakes for breakfast (Chad was a little worried about the food coloring, but it didn't take him long to get over it!). We gave them a little Valentine, and then had a heart shaped pizza for dinner. Chad and I decided to stay home this year. By the time you wait for dinner, you have to pay the babysitter double. We had a quiet evening at home and I even got Chad to watch a romantic movie with me: "Nights in Rodanthe." It was actually really good. We hope you all had a wonderful Valentines Day!

Claire's Preschool Party

I think Claire has proclaimed Valentine's Day as her favorite holiday. She got way into it this year, and as soon as she saw hearts in the store, she figured it out. She was very excited for her party at preschool. She worked very hard to write her own name on her cards, and was so excited to give everyone their princess Valentine with a pencil. I am happy to say that I have fought with her about writing her name, but now she does a great job(I knew she could do it all along). She came up to me after the party and said, "Teacher, that was the best party ever!" So cute! I am glad that she had such a great time!
Playing a game where they had to count the hearts after their bean bag landed on it.
Claire loved playing musical chairs. She didn't win, but was a really good sport about the whole thing.

Valentine Cookies

Last week for FHE we invited our friends the Copelands over to decorate heart cookies. The kids had so much fun, and as always invented cookies with more candy than cookie to them. It is so fun now that Owen can do it all by himself - he actually doesn't want any help.

Candy Bracelets

I have been trying to find activities to keep the kids busy during these winter months. It has been a challenge but I was so excited when I found a candy bracelet making kit the other day. The kids had so much fun. It kept them busy for almost an hour. Although I am still finding candy around the house, and the bracelets broke very quickly it was worth it! Don't you just love Owen's princess dress??

Update minus pictures

I haven't got the camera out nearly as much as I should lately, so here is an update without any pictures.

This week we bought Claire her Valentine's for preschool. She was so excited about them. Of course Owen had to get some too, so we now have princess Valentine's and Thomas the Train ones. Who would have guessed!!! Claire had a hard time understanding that she didn't get to keep them all for herself, and that she had to write her name on all of them. You would have thought that I was asking her to make her own clothes or something. We are still working on them, but will have them done by Thursday for her Valentine's Party at preschool.

My friend Debra let me borrow her biggest loser workout tape, so I popped that in on Wednesday night. I loved it!! It didn't seem to hard, but I knew it was working, especially when I could hardly walk once it was over. I was so sore for 2 days!! I think it is a keeper.

On Friday Chad and I got the opportunity to go skiing with they young men and young women. It was so much fun. Of course I left my camera in the car. Most of my young women didn't even know how to ski, so Chad became one of the teachers, and he did a great job! When he was done with them he had them snow plowing down the hill. We haven't gone skiing since we got married, so it was a lot of fun for us.

Claire had her first Primary activity on Saturday. They did a bunch of Valentine activities. It isn't that hard to please a 4 year old! She loved seeing all of her friends, and made sure that on Sunday I knew where she had done all of her activities.

Yesterday Grandma and Grandpa Clayson came for a visit. It is always fun for us to have them come. The kids love it!! Every time Claire cleans her room it is because she thinks they are coming. We had a great time seeing them, and hope they will visit more.

Why??

Today is just one of those days. I am grumpy and I admit it. I think I have scared Chad away. But, as I was cleaning the house, I just kept saying why am I doing this?

Why do I have to mop the kitchen floor that is dirty before it is even dry? Literally. I had to fight a 2 year old for the floor when he insisted that it was his place for Monster Truck Jam 2009. (That reminds me - has anyone tried those new steam mops? I really like the concept but don't want to fork over the money if it isn't going to be worth it!)

Why do I vacuum? When your 4 year old comes home from a primary activity with a cookie that she dumps onto the carpet (yes it was an accident, but still!)

Why do I discipline my kids? Just when one gets out of time out, it seems that they are doing the same things all over again?

Why can't my kids play outside? Claire actually told me today that it was just to hot to play outside (you heard that right!) Just wait until the summer time!!

Why do I cook dinner? Half the time the kids tell me they don't like it before we even sit down - what a pain.

I know it is just my mood today, but some days don't we all just wonder why.

Claire's Wisdom

We have been working on rhyming words in preschool, but I don't think Claire really gets it. She will say two words and tell me they rhyme when really I think she means they go together. Here is the best one yet:
Mom: What rhymes with hit?
Claire: That's not nice - we don't do that - that rhymes!
Soooo cute!!! She said all of that with a very serious look on her face.

Brotherly Love

It is so great the Claire and Owen love Grant. On this day Owen really wanted to hold Grant, and take a picture. Well, of course Claire couldn't be left out of the action, but the are so cute together. I hope they will let me take their pictures more!!